IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i17p10533-d896067.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Leveraging Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Sustainability: A Provenance Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Lewis A. Njualem

    (Department of Information & Decision Sciences, Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA)

Abstract

Technological advancements in the past few decades have played a critical role in enhancing supply chain management from varied dimensions. While advancements in information technology have significantly improved various facets of the supply chain, supply chain visibility still lags in tracking and tracing capabilities. The disruptive and emergent blockchain technology (BCT) presents enormous potential to address issues of supply chain sustainability. This paper seeks to evaluate the proximity of BCT to resolve provenance issues throughout the supply chain. The research considers the immaturity of BCT alongside limited success stories in supply chain management. It uses a content analysis methodology to examine recent literature about using BCT in supply chain sustainability and provenance. A conceptual model for using BCT to create an enabled, visible, and sustainable supply chain is provided to frame the investigation. Findings reveal that the benefits of BCT have mostly been conceptually demonstrated in the sustainable supply chain literature, but with few practical applications. Moreover, technically driven challenges including scalability and control are still prevalent. It reaffirms the fact that participants within a blockchain enabled supply chain network must be at the same level of knowledge regarding the technology and its functionality. The study also indicates evidence of a growing research interest in the niche, which will eventually bring about solutions to address ongoing challenges faced by BCT in its integration into supply chain management. These findings contribute to the literature about improving the security and utility of supply chain sustainability and provenance by using BCT.

Suggested Citation

  • Lewis A. Njualem, 2022. "Leveraging Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Sustainability: A Provenance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10533-:d:896067
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10533/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10533/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Weili Yin & Wenxue Ran, 2021. "Theoretical Exploration of Supply Chain Viability Utilizing Blockchain Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Jiang Duan & Chen Zhang & Yu Gong & Steve Brown & Zhi Li, 2020. "A Content-Analysis Based Literature Review in Blockchain Adoption within Food Supply Chain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Gabriella M. Hastig & ManMohan S. Sodhi, 2020. "Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability: Business Requirements and Critical Success Factors," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(4), pages 935-954, April.
    4. Aichih (Jasmine) Chang & Nesreen El-Rayes & Jim Shi, 2022. "Blockchain Technology for Supply Chain Management: A Comprehensive Review," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Yousefi, Samuel & Mohamadpour Tosarkani, Babak, 2022. "An analytical approach for evaluating the impact of blockchain technology on sustainable supply chain performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    6. Dutta, Pankaj & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Somani, Surabhi & Butala, Richa, 2020. "Blockchain technology in supply chain operations: Applications, challenges and research opportunities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    7. Abdelghani Bekrar & Abdessamad Ait El Cadi & Raca Todosijevic & Joseph Sarkis, 2021. "Digitalizing the Closing-of-the-Loop for Supply Chains: A Transportation and Blockchain Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, March.
    8. Henry M. Kim & Marek Laskowski, 2018. "Toward an ontology‐driven blockchain design for supply‐chain provenance," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 18-27, January.
    9. Rebeca B. Sánchez-Flores & Samantha E. Cruz-Sotelo & Sara Ojeda-Benitez & Ma. Elizabeth Ramírez-Barreto, 2020. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management—A Literature Review on Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-27, August.
    10. Jaehun Joo & Yuming Han, 2021. "An Evidence of Distributed Trust in Blockchain-Based Sustainable Food Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-15, October.
    11. Arim Park & Huan Li, 2021. "The Effect of Blockchain Technology on Supply Chain Sustainability Performances," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Toptancı, Ali İskan, 2021. "Using IBM Food Trust Blockchain in the Food Supply Chain: A Research on Walmart," EconStor Research Reports 231307, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ulpan Tokkozhina & Ana Lucia Martins & Joao C. Ferreira, 2023. "Uncovering dimensions of the impact of blockchain technology in supply chain management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 99-125, March.
    2. Jacob Lohmer & Elias Ribeiro da Silva & Rainer Lasch, 2022. "Blockchain Technology in Operations & Supply Chain Management: A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-88, May.
    3. Büşra Ayan & Elif Güner & Semen Son-Turan, 2022. "Blockchain Technology and Sustainability in Supply Chains and a Closer Look at Different Industries: A Mixed Method Approach," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-39, December.
    4. Nishant Saravanan & Jessica Olivares-Aguila & Alejandro Vital-Soto, 2022. "Bibliometric and Text Analytics Approaches to Review COVID-19 Impacts on Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-33, November.
    5. Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "A critical review of formal analytical modeling for blockchain technology in production, operations, and supply chains: Harnessing progress for future potential," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    6. Peng Xing & Junzhu Yao, 2022. "Power Battery Echelon Utilization and Recycling Strategy for New Energy Vehicles Based on Blockchain Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Ashkan Pakseresht & Sina Ahmadi Kaliji & Vilma Xhakollari, 2022. "How Blockchain Facilitates the Transition toward Circular Economy in the Food Chain?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    8. Lai, Kee-hung & Feng, Yunting & Zhu, Qinghua, 2023. "Digital transformation for green supply chain innovation in manufacturing operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. Sachin Kumar Mangla & Yiğit Kazançoğlu & Abdullah Yıldızbaşı & Cihat Öztürk & Ahmet Çalık, 2022. "A conceptual framework for blockchain‐based sustainable supply chain and evaluating implementation barriers: A case of the tea supply chain," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(8), pages 3693-3716, December.
    10. Yuling Sun & Xiaomei Song & Yihao Jiang & Jian Guo, 2023. "Strategy Analysis of Fresh Agricultural Enterprises in a Competitive Circumstance: The Impact of Blockchain and Consumer Traceability Preferences," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Seyyed-Alireza Radmanesh & Alireza Haji & Omid Fatahi Valilai, 2023. "Blockchain-Based Architecture for a Sustainable Supply Chain in Cloud Architecture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Aditi S. Saha & Rakesh D. Raut & Vinay Surendra Yadav & Abhijit Majumdar, 2022. "Blockchain Changing the Outlook of the Sustainable Food Supply Chain to Achieve Net Zero?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Quanpeng Chen & Xiaogang Chen, 2023. "Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Internal and External Finance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-33, July.
    14. Juan Carlos López-Pimentel & Miguel Alcaraz-Rivera & Rafael Granillo-Macías & Elias Olivares-Benitez, 2022. "Traceability of Mexican Avocado Supply Chain: A Microservice and Blockchain Technological Solution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-18, November.
    15. Muen Uddin & Shitharth Selvarajan & Muath Obaidat & Shams Ul Arfeen & Alaa O. Khadidos & Adil O. Khadidos & Maha Abdelhaq, 2023. "From Hype to Reality: Unveiling the Promises, Challenges and Opportunities of Blockchain in Supply Chain Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-24, August.
    16. Shou, Yongyi & Zhao, Xinyu & Dai, Jing & Xu, Dong, 2021. "Matching traceability and supply chain coordination: Achieving operational innovation for superior performance," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Ma, Deqing & Hu, Jinsong, 2022. "The optimal combination between blockchain and sales format in an internet platform-based closed-loop supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    18. Xue Wang & Deqing Ma & Jinsong Hu, 2022. "Recycling Model Selection for Electronic Products Considering Platform Power and Blockchain Empowerment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-44, May.
    19. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    20. Yu Gong & Shenghao Xie & Deepak Arunachalam & Jiang Duan & Jianli Luo, 2022. "Blockchain‐based recycling and its impact on recycling performance: A network theory perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(8), pages 3717-3741, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10533-:d:896067. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.